<p>Reluctant Son (RS) had interview with the ALO. We weren’t going to push him to set up an interview, but the ALO sought him out at his high school and interviewed him there. Later the ALO came over to the house and briefly spoke with my wife.</p>
<p>My wife told me the ALO seemed to focus on the Prep School during their conversation. Would that be an indication that he might plan to recommend that the USAFA offer RS a Prep School slot?</p>
<p>RS received a course catalog and a “Life at the Academy” booklet in the mail last week from the USAFA. There was no accompanying letter. Should we read anything into that or is it just a routine mailing to “candidate” designees?</p>
<p>How does RS update his file? He was just awarded his 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo. </p>
<p>It appears RS is becoming more open to the USAFA as time has passed. His file is complete, he passed the DodMERB, and he has a Presidential nomination.</p>
<p>When my D updated her file she simply mailed an updated "resume of accomplishments" (or whatever she called it) to admissions. She took the old one (which I believe she had either cut/pasted onto some place in the web application thing or she mailed it as a supplement to her online app). Anyway - she took that document from the computer and put on the additions (I think she highlighted them or used bold font or something like that) and then mailed it to admissions with a nice cover letter. I know she updated her file several times. If I remember correctly, her file was complete fairly early and she updated it at least twice, I think three times, before she got her LOA in October ... wow it's two years ago now ... She continued to update her file even after she got the LOA - at both USAFA and her MOC. I don't think she had to update the USAFA file, but she did anyway. However she did update the MOC file even after interviews, until her nom came (very end of January).</p>
<p>Zachwheat the prep school question is a common one to be asked during the ALO interveiw. Good to see he may be getting past the GF issues. Everyone here will still tell you "He has to want to be at USAFA for himself". The P-School is a great opportunity if it is offered. With the Presidential you could see an offer anytime if the package is solid. He will really want to complete an Ac visit if that happens so he can see what life has in store.</p>
<p>Prep school never came up in my conversation with the ALO. The ALO and I had a fairly decent conversation that I thought went really well, but when we passed another student they asked me about something really interesting I had done this past summer, causing the ALO to turn to me and ask, why didn't you mention that? I would have liked to have heard about it we could have spent the time talking about that. Honestly, never crossed my mind. Hope it doesn't hurt my chances.</p>
<p>As to the mail out. I got one, too. Pretty random - no letter included. Someone told me that it contains information I didn't have previously and they were right. Glad to have it, but not sure what prompted getting it. Timeline, maybe?</p>
<p>Once items are submitted online you cannot get to it again. Our sons's admission officer gave us his email address, and the counselor at our son's high school directly emailed any additional awards, etc. he had earned or been awarded since our son completed his candidate package. That seemed to work fine and the counselor copied us on the email.</p>
<p>You have to have someone "certify" the additional items you sent in. For instance, the first day ACT results were out, our son printed his results out online, took to the counselor at the high school and she put the seal of the high school on them and certified them. We then sent mailed them into the AFA so they could get there in time for updating his file for the first round of selections (we did not want the AFA selections committee to be waiting on the official results from ACT test that were being sent to them from ACT)</p>
<p>For those that haven't seen me post here, I'm an ALO in Arizona. I've been one for 14 years now.</p>
<p>It is NOT uncommon for the ALO to discuss, ask, etc., about the prep school. Is it something to "read" into? Perhaps, and perhaps not. I always ask the student about it: "have you heard of the PS? Would that interest you? Why/Why not?"</p>
<p>What am I after?</p>
<p>I want to know how serious the candidate is about the academy. I have interviewed..well, in 14 years, well over 100 students...and some gave me the answer: "I want to attend the academy and fly. That's it...its the AFA or nothing!"</p>
<p>Okay...that makes me VERY concerned. How serious is the person about becoming an OFFICER? That's what the academy is for. First and foremost.</p>
<p>So...when I ask and a student says: "I've applied for an ROTC scholarship and the academy but if I can't get directly in and they were to offer me a PS slot, I'd jump at it!" That tells me that the student is VERY serious and will do whatever it takes.</p>
<p>So...is there probably something "behind" the question? In truth...probably. But would I be concerned/worried about it?</p>
<p>NO. Not at all. Remember...the ALO is trying to know who the student is; what motivates them, and then trying to decide: is this student someone I want to recommend to USAFA?</p>
<p>So don't worry about the PS questions. Just keep nailing all the high points: SAT/ACT, CFA, academics, etc...etc...</p>
<p>Best wishes!</p>
<p>Steve</p>
<p>Stephen E. Wood, Lt Col, USAFR
Deputy Liaison Officer Director for Arizona</p>
<p>Our ALO went to RS's school, talked with the teachers that submitted evaluations, and interviewed RS there. After the interview, the ALO came over to the house and met with my wife (Lt Col, USAFR). That's where the issue of the Prep School came up and seemed to be the theme of the discussion. </p>
<p>The interviews I've seen discussed on this board haven't mentioned the ALO meeting teachers and parents in person as part of the evaluation. Is this common?</p>
<p>I know many ALO's do meet the parentts, esp. military to make sure the kids aren't going down this route to make the folks happy. Our DS called and chatted with us, but I wouldn't know him if I fell on top of him. </p>
<p>Daughter had three ALO's. First one did the interveiw and eval for Summer Seminar. He only wanted to talk with her, and arranged the meeting in the library. He moved to Texas and she was reassigned. </p>
<p>The Second did her eval for USAFA admission. He came to the house, but in contrast to the Navy BGO spoke with us for a few minutes, and then spoke with her for about an hour privately. BGO was over all morning with a Navy Chief, and talked with all of us the whole time.</p>
<p>last one was the state director and brought the appointment to an awards presentation. He still keeps in touch so thy can speak to interested candidates.</p>
<p>My wife and I thought RS's ACT scores might have been responsible for the ALOs emphasis on Prep School. RS has ACT scores pending from the October testing.</p>
<p>RS's lone "B" came in a PE course in which he performed poorly in an archery segment.</p>
<p>My ALO showed up for an interview we had in the mall food court, then he fell off the earth when I couldn't so much as get an e-mail reply from him (after 3 tries). :S</p>
<p>Buckaroo had 3 ALOs as well. First one she talked to to get an idea of a timeline for applying. Second one she never met, just talked to on the phone. She gave Buckaroo a recommendation for Summer Seminar and then vanished. The last ALO did her interview and rec for USAFA and has stayed in touch. DH and I did not meet him until the awards banquet where he presented her with her "large scholarship".</p>
<p>IF that ALO is still an ALO, I'd love to know...because THAT kind of ALO, we do NOT need.</p>
<p>We in AZ are VERY picky about who we "hire." We make it VERY clear up front: you will do a LOT of work; you will be available to your students, at ANY time, and you'll smile all the time.</p>
<p>FYI...ALO's are NOT paid...we are a "wierd" category of the AF Reserve: we receive points toward our retirement, but we do not receive a paycheck. This is a "strictly volunteer" position and in MOST units, it's a VERY select assignment. We ONLY want the very best folks; the ones that REALLY want to work with the "kids" and help them!!!</p>
<p>Your ALO...was useless, from your description and I'd have fired him.</p>
<p>But then...I"m a really "old school" stodgy kind of officer... ;-)</p>
<p>I just worry about the term RS you are using for your son. He has to be “all in” otherwise he’ll just end up out processing, if not during BCT, then during the first year.</p>